Limnocharinae

MM029999

The Limnocharidae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Eylaoidea. There are three genera in two subfamilies in Australia that share the feature of having the eye capsules united on a median spindle-shaped plate.

There are two genera in the subfamily Limnocharinae in Australia: Limnochares (1 sp., NSW, Vic, Tas, WA), and Neolimnochares (1 sp., NT). Members of the other subfamily, Rhyncholimnocharinae, have an anterior 'probosicis' that bears the mouthparts, which is more poorly developed in the Limnocharinae. Another difference is that the second and third segments of the palp are fused and strongly expanded in rhyncholimnocharines, while limnocharines lack this combination of characters.

References

Cook, D.R. 1986. Water mites from Australia. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 40: 1-568.

Harvey, M.S. 1990. A review of the water mite family Limnocharidae in Australia (Acarina). Invert. Taxon. 3: 483-493.

Harvey, M.S. 1998. The Australian Water Mites: a Guide to Families and Genera. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic.